PODCAST · music
Unplugged Revisited
by Will Hodge
Unplugged Revisited is a podcast that celebrates, critiques, and dives deep into the last three-and-a-half decades of the pop cultural game changer MTV Unplugged. Featuring discussions with artists who played the show, individuals who worked on the show, or some of my fellow music journalist friends talking about various aspects of the show’s history, Unplugged Revisited will assess MTV Unplugged’s impact and legacy from the show's humble beginning in 1989 all the way through to the present day.
Episodes
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UR026: Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) [1993 MTV Unplugged]
Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) joins the show to discuss Soul Asylum’s enchanting 1993 MTV Unplugged episode and its 30-years-later commemorative companion – the brand new acoustic live album MPLS Unplugged (out August 28). During our chat, Dave recalls his own punk-to-acoustic pipeline, unplugging…
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UR025: 12 Solo Acts Unplug Their Former Bands [MTV Unplugged]
Season Two Finale! Spanning 1990 to 2019, we dig into a cool dozen solo acts who spiced up their Unplugged setlists by reworking a song or two (or six) from their former bands (some of which who have since gotten back together). The solo acts who unplugged their former bands include: Joe Walsh...
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UR024: "R&B Unplugged" w/ Joe Public (Boyz II Men and Shanice) [1992 MTV Unplugged]
Joe Public (Kevin Scott, JR Carter, and Dwight “Mr. Dew” Wyatt) joins the show to talk about playing the “R&B Unplugged” episode of MTV Unplugged in 1992. During the taping, they not only performed their own Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 hit “Live and Learn” but they also pulled double duty as the...
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UR023: "Unforgotten" - George Michael [1996 MTV Unplugged]
George Michael is my first gone-too-soon artist to get their own “Unforgotten” style episode. While I normally save my single-Unplugged deep dives for when I interview an artist or musician who has played MTV Unplugged, “Unforgotten” will be an interview-less solo deep dive around an Unplugged...
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UR022: "1996 MTV Unplugged Season Retrospective" w/ Alex Coletti
We’re kicking off 2026 by looking back 30 years to discuss the entire 1996 Season of MTV Unplugged with longtime MTV Unplugged producer/showrunner Alex Coletti. Tune in for some incredible behind-the-scenes stories, covers, and song clips courtesy of Alice in Chains, Tori Amos, Seal, Hootie and…
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UR021: MTV Unplugged Beatles Covers (Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Hall & Oates, & more) [1990-2001]
To celebrate The Beatles Anthology turning 30 this year, here’s a super fun collection of Beatles songs that have been played (some for the first and only time) on MTV Unplugged. Artists covered include Annie Lennox, Phil Collins, Blackstreet, Cassia Eller, Hall & Oates, Slaughter, Joe Cocker…
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UR020: MTV Unplugged Record Store Day Retrospective (R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Soul Asylum, & more)
In honor of this year's Record Store Day Black Friday (November 28) and the release of a-ha’s ‘Take on Me 40th Anniversary EP’ featuring their 2017 MTV Unplugged piano ballad version of the iconic classic, I’ve put together a retrospective of every single MTV Unplugged album that’s been released…
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UR019: Fergal Lawler (The Cranberries) [1995 MTV Unplugged]
Drummer Fergal Lawler (The Cranberries) joins the show to discuss the band’s phenomenal 1995 MTV Unplugged episode – which, 30 years later, is finally getting released as a proper standalone album (out 11/7). Fergal recollects on unplugging “Zombie,” playing with the Electra Strings, and dropping...
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UR018: "6 Unplugged Songs that Explain the '90s" w/ Rob Harvilla [1990s MTV Unplugged]
For our Season Two opener, we called in a Ringer! Writer, author, and podcaster Rob Harvilla (“60 Songs that Explain the ‘90s”) joins the show to discuss MTV Unplugged’s massive, multi-layered impact throughout the 1990s via six exemplary performances. I picked six songs as well, so you’re really...
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UR017: Trey Lorenz (Mariah Carey) [1992 MTV Unplugged]
Season One Finale! Trey Lorenz joins the show to discuss singing on Mariah Carey’s legendary quadruple platinum MTV Unplugged (including their last-minute addition turned global smash hit duet of The Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There”), as well as his years of working with Mariah from her first...
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UR016: "Kurt Cobain Unplugged" UK Exhibit of Kurt's Martin D18-E Acoustic Guitar (Alan Di Perna) [Nirvana 1993 MTV Unplugged]
UR016: "Kurt Cobain Unplugged" UK Exhibit of Kurt's Martin D18-E Acoustic Guitar (Alan Di Perna) [Nirvana 1993 MTV Unplugged] Alan Di Perna joins the show to discuss his work curating the “Kurt Cobain Unplugged” UK exhibit running this summer and fall at London’s Royal College of Music. The…
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UR015: Mike Inez (Alice In Chains) [1996 MTV Unplugged]
God-tier grunge bassist Mike Inez (Alice in Chains) joins the show to discuss the band’s equally brilliant and heartbreaking MTV Unplugged episode and album from 1996. Lots of great Alice talk, Seattle scene memories, and EVEN MORE “Friends Don’t Let Friends Get Friends Haircuts” backstory to add...
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UR014: Mark Bryan (Hootie and the Blowfish) [1996 MTV Unplugged]
Double Diamond certified guitarist Mark Bryan (Hootie and the Blowfish) joins the show to discuss the band’s special homecoming of an Unplugged that was filmed on the University of South Carolina campus and aired just a day before the release of their second album (Fairweather Johnson) in 1996.…
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UR013: "The Young-plugged Saga, Part Two" w/ Jon Vesey (Neil Young & MTV Unplugged) [1990, 1992, 1993]
We continue pulling back the curtain on “The Young-Plugged Saga” to discuss Neil Young’s three appearances on MTV Unplugged – a branded concert video in 1990, his unaired episode in 1992, and his broadcast/album in 1993. Part Two features an interview with MTV Unplugged editor Jon Vesey. If you…
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UR012: "The Young-plugged Saga, Part One" w/ Alex Coletti (Neil Young & MTV Unplugged) [1990, 1992, 1993]
We’re pulling back the curtain on “The Young-plugged Saga” to discuss Neil Young’s three appearances on MTV Unplugged – a branded concert video in 1990, his unaired episode in 1992, and his broadcast/album in 1993. Part One features an interview with longtime MTV Unplugged producer/showrunner…
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UR011: Speech, Eshe, and Rasa Don (Arrested Development) [1993 MTV Unplugged]
Southern alternative hip-hop pioneers Arrested Development (Speech, Eshe, and Rasa Don) join the show to talk about the stunning MTV Unplugged episode and album they delivered during their explosive ’92-’93 whirlwind. They also discuss their brand new track – “All I See is Melanin” – that’s...
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UR010: Nathan East (Eric Clapton Unplugged, Phil Collins Unplugged, Babyface Unplugged) [1992, 1994, 1997]
Renowned bass genius Nathan East (“Footloose,” “Easy Lover,” “Saving All My Love for You,” “Tears in Heaven,” “Change the World,” “Get Lucky”) joins the show to reminisce about playing on three separate episodes of MTV Unplugged: Eric Clapton (1992), Phil Collins (1994), and Babyface (1997).…
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UR009: MTV Unplugged Compilation Albums (Hits & Rarities) [1994, 2002-2004]
Revisit some of Unplugged’s greatest hits and under-the-radar rarities as Will dissects the four “official” Unplugged compilation CDs that came out between 1994 and 2004. Not only do these albums contain some of Unplugged’s most well-known moments (10,000 Maniacs, Alanis Morissette, R.E.M., Alice...
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UR008: "MTV Unplugged Two-Timers Club" (40+ artists who appeared on Unplugged more than once)
Join us as we establish the “MTV Unplugged Two-Timers Club” and induct the inaugural batch of 40+ artists who have appeared on MTV Unplugged more than once (with a few even appearing three times). Inductions are broken out by four main categories: Two Shows, 1.5 Shows, Two Spots, and Non-Band...
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UR007: Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) [2002]
Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) joins the show to discuss the band’s celebrated 2002 MTV Unplugged episode (during the program’s 2001-2002 reboot) and their subsequent platinum-selling MTV Unplugged 2.0 album. He talks about the impact that playing Unplugged has had on his career and also...
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UR006 – Lori Goldston (Nirvana) [1993]
Lori Goldston joins the show to discuss playing cello with Nirvana on their legendary MTV Unplugged performance. She also discusses her time with the band before and after the Unplugged taping, as she toured with them on the North American leg of their In Utero tour from October ’93 to January…
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UR005 – MC Lyte (YO! Unplugged & Spoken Word II) [1991 & 1994]
MC Lyte joins the show to discuss playing MTV Unplugged twice: first on the 1991 YO! Unplugged hip-hop show (alongside A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and LL Cool J) and then on the second Spoken Word episode from 1994. Tune in to hear her reminisce about playing “Cappuccino” with a live band...
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UR004: Natalie Merchant (10,000 Maniacs)
Natalie Merchant joins the show to discuss both of her appearances on MTV Unplugged back when she was the lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs. Tune in to hear her stories about the band’s very early Unplugged in 1990, their massively popular second episode in 1993 (with special guest David Byrne), and...
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UR003: Unplugged 101, Part 3 (2000-2024)
UR003 - "Unplugged 101, Part 3" (2000-2024) is the third explainer episode outlining the entire 35-year-plus spectrum of MTV Unplugged. This episode kicks off with the Unplugged 2.0 reboot of 2001 (the return of R.E.M., Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z and the Roots, Dashboard Confessional, and more) and…
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UR002: Unplugged 101, Part 2 (1994-1999)
UR002 - "Unplugged 101, Part 2" (1994-1999) is the second of three explainer episodes outlining the entire 35-year-plus spectrum of MTV Unplugged. This episode covers 1994 to 1999 and discusses what exactly MTV Unplugged did with their multi-tentacled creative platform throughout the second half…
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UR001: Unplugged 101, Part 1 (1989-1993)
UR001 - Unplugged 101, Part 1 (1989-1993) is the first of three explainer episodes outlining the entire 35-year-plus spectrum of MTV Unplugged. This episode covers MTV Unplugged's earliest days in 1989, all the way through its hard-earned, momentum-building early-‘90s pop cultural ubiquity, and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Unplugged Revisited is a podcast that celebrates, critiques, and dives deep into the last three-and-a-half decades of the pop cultural game changer MTV Unplugged. Featuring discussions with artists who played the show, individuals who worked on the show, or some of my fellow music journalist friends talking about various aspects of the show’s history, Unplugged Revisited will assess MTV Unplugged’s impact and legacy from the show's humble beginning in 1989 all the way through to the present day.
HOSTED BY
Will Hodge
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Unplugged Revisited have?
Unplugged Revisited currently has 26 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Unplugged Revisited about?
Unplugged Revisited is a podcast that celebrates, critiques, and dives deep into the last three-and-a-half decades of the pop cultural game changer MTV Unplugged. Featuring discussions with artists who played the show, individuals who worked on the show, or some of my fellow music journalist...
How often does Unplugged Revisited release new episodes?
Unplugged Revisited has 26 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Unplugged Revisited?
You can listen to Unplugged Revisited on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Unplugged Revisited?
Unplugged Revisited is created and hosted by Will Hodge.
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